FIFA World Cup

World champions Spain confirmed their exit from the 2014 World Cup, following a disappointing 0:2 loss to Chile in group B of the tournament.

With one more match left to play, against Australia, all Spain can hope for is not to finish bottom.

Spain's six-year reign as the world's pre-eminent team ended on June 18 as Chile sent them crashing out of the World Cup with a 2-0 win in Rio de Janeiro.

Spain had been seeking a fourth consecutive major title, but instead they became only the fifth defending champions - after Italy in 1950 and 2010, Brazil in 1966 and France in 2002 -- to go out in the World Cup's first round.

Just like they forecast economic variables, and even asset prices, economists are now trying to predict who will win the World Cup. For example, professional services network PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) uses an econometric model to estimate the relative strength of each country participating in the World Cup.

 Greece enters the World Cup on Saturday, aiming for its first ever qualification from the group stage

By George Georgakopoulos

The world’s most popular and attractive sporting event, the FIFA World Cup Tournament, is starting today with a kick-off game between Brazil and Croatia in São Paulo, Brazil, amid the protests across the country.

The World Cup starts in Brazil tonight, but eyes will be on what’s happening off the pitch as well as the beautiful game, or ‘joga bonito’ on it Never in recent history has the World Cup arrived with such extremity of expectations on and off the pitch.

The samba beats are rolling and the world's eyes are now on Brazil. Come Thursday, women will have one more reason to nag at their husbands as they tune into the World Cup fever.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is banking on Brazilian support for his country at the World Cup, where he says they are in the toughest of the eight groups.
   

By George Georgakopoulos

OFI has secured the services of Italian manager Gennaro Gattuso for the next season in the Super League, the Cretan club announced on Thursday.

The former AC Milan, Rangers and Italy defender is making his first steps in his international coaching career and OFI has reached a deal to hire him for the 2014-15 season.

The United States continued their World Cup preparations with a 2-1 triumph over Turkey on June 1.